Great to see all the ian dury chat.
Some lesser known songs to keep the memory going
Drip fed fred (with madness)…Sueperman’s big sister..Over the points…Sink my boats…Itinerant child…..Spasticus autisticus…Dance little rude boy
My fav ‘what a waste’
The last song i ever saw him sing on his ( cancer) farewell tour ‘mash it up harry’
And of course the Vernacular Dracula’s well known… Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Such a miss.Rory
Ps The Blockheads are still touring and i will see them again next month ….’they said the drugs would kill us, the drugs are keeping us alive’
Christy's reply
added to ever lengthening list of songs to hear…
getting into front row mode here for the next 36 hours
rubbing in the wintergreen…getting ready to grunt….
every bit of clothing
ought to make you pretty
you can cut the clothing
grey is such a pity
I should wear the clothing
of Mr Walter Mitty
see my tailor
he’s called Simon
I know it’s going to fit
Hi Christy
Lovely to see the great Ian Dury
mentioned in dispatches. Top man.
Glad ye met up along the way.
Who, who, who’s that man …
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
Christy's reply
one of those special but brief encounters that left an indelible mark
Daughter of the sea waters
asleep in their entrails,
I am reborn from the gunpowder
which a guerrilla rifle
spread on the mountain
so that the world would be reborn in its turn,
that the whole sea would be reborn,
all the dust,
all the dust of Cuba.
Back from the Baltic…enjoying a catch up here.Riga was a brill few days. Ancient and modern history to absorb,snowy streets to wander…warm cafes and bars.
Musical links…Ewan’s classic very much in mind as ‘silver darlings’ quickly became a staple.Exceptional when in a restaurant being battered by Baltic blasts…thoughts to those who brave the seas and there must be local lads who have the same right of passage as Ewan’s crew in ‘shials of Herring’
A music shop with a fine choice of bodhrans was a treat on a final wander…acapella harmonies in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral were spine tingling.Echoing around the domes..not many singers but bell like quality of their voices was memorable.
I’ve just revisited the exhibition in Central Library…Latvian rye bread and dark beers must have boosted my eyesight! Today,I spotted a small photo of a hirsute C Moore c 1973…as I recall you in the Golden Lion folk club in that era. A few items added since last week. I bet Colin Harper’s book about Bill Leader is great…’The man who paid the pipers’ works as a title ..
Great post by John. I was in Cuba a few years ago and looked up the Che/Lynch link when I got home. I’d seen a reference in a Cuban museum,but assumed I’d mashed it via my grim Spanish! Amazing history…
Christy, following your comments below, it’s got to be done. An Ian Dury tribute track on your next album “Hit me with your shovel Mick” (sorry couldn’t help it).😀
Heya CM,
The Bewley’s gig would have been around 1994 ish? Same for Ballyfermot. You are correct- It was “ Banks of The Lee” you sang in the dark that night. I knew it was the Banks of something…
Remember the Fleadh on Randall’s Island in New York? You were singing “Fairytale” and the NYPD were backstage singing along..
Magic times….
Christy's reply
That Randall’s Island gig was special….another visionary gig from the late Vince Power..he created so many wonderful opportunities for musicians to travel, to play, to earn…
it may be euphoric recall but my outstanding memory was a line of NYPD officers standing to attention in front of the stage as Shane’s classic song was performed
I remember so many of Vince’s gigs… staring with the Mean Fiddler in Harlesden we worked together at London, Glasgow and New York Fleadhanna,I played at the opening of Mean Fiddler in Dublin,at his Fleadh Mór in Tramore and last,but not least, at his wonderful “Nell’s Cafe” in London….he had many other plans before he was taken from us…always remembered…Vince Power
ps..,just remembered a venue in Tramore that never took off…Vince always wanted to put something special on in his native place..anyone remember that venue ?
Thanks Christy for your reply,
It put me in mind of your dedication made to Martin Hurson during the song ‘On The Blanket’ on the Lilac Disc in the box set, performed in Sligo.
Rory
If we stay silent we’re guilty
Christy's reply
“They took away Hurson, McCreesh, McDonnell and McIlwee
O’Hara, Hughes, Lynch,Devine, Sands and Doherty
In Camlough, Bellaghy,Dungiven,The Bogside, Belfast and Tyrone
Where the gerrymandered people rose up, never again to lie down”
an additional verse added to Jack Warshaw’s “No Time for Love”
Hi Christy, some people say that you should never meet your heroes, which when you get to my age isn’t a problem as I’m more likely to visit their graves or meet their children than meet them in person. But tonight I met one of my heroes children, Aleida, in the back room of the Casa (pub) in Liverpool where she spoke eloquently & passionately (via an interpreter) about the Cuban and Palestinian solidarity campaigns. She finished with everyone on their feet singing The Internationale, I’ve been in company on numerous occasions when The Internationale was sang with passion & pride but the night I stood and sang it with Che Guevaras daughter will live long in my memory. Unfortunately she doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish so I never got to ask her about her Irish ancestry & Patrick Lynch who left Galway for Buenos Aires in 1749. I did however get the chance to raise a glass to our old companero Ken (R,I,P.) as the Casa was one of his favourite watering holes, ‘Stand up ,all victims of oppression’
Christy's reply
“Against Batista, The Fidelista,
courage was their armour
as they fought at Fidel’s side
with Che Guevara”
Happy 80th birthday to the fantastic Robert Nesta Marley.
He and ian dury ( sorry christy) were the posters on my teenage bedroom wall.
WAR until the day when the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Rory
Christy's reply
good teenage wall Rory….we got to hear Bob in Dalymountt Park, Dublin back in the day of the hard ticket..met the beautiful Ian on a Channel 4 programme in London way back…also heard him in Castlebar, County Mayo the day that Kieran Doherty died on hunger strike….gave the artist’s bar a miss that day
Heya CM,
Have a lot of catching up to do on postings…was reading Gipps comments on Liam Og’s singing on “Bonny Light Horseman”. I seem to recall (box set?) All of you in Planxty singing on “Down to the River to Pray” that was such a wonderful part of “O Brother Where Art Thou”.
Then read someone speaking about their best gig….mine would have to be in Bewley’s, when EIlish was running the Folk Club there on Thursdays. Your gig there was the best ever! But also a memorable one in a community hall in Ballyfermot when the power went out and you stood in the dark at the front of the stage and sang acapella. I think it was “Banks of the Bann” that you sang, but whatever it was raised the hairs on the back of the neck. Great night–who needs electricity anyway!
Christy's reply
some flashbacks there…any idea of what years (approx) the Bewleys and Ballyfermot gigs
Back then I used to sometimes sing “Banks of The Lee”
That Planxty “Down in The Valley” was from a 1972 rehearsal…..Liam was friendly with the American singer Pat Sky ..I think he may have turned Liam on to the song…… such happy getting-it-all-together rehearsals….we played Monday nights in Slattery’s of Capel St. Dublin ..Sunday Nights in The Old Shieling in Raheny..we released our first single “Three Drunken Maidens” on the Ruby label and got mentioned in Spotlight, Melody Maker and Evening Press….
we rehearsed for a few weeks out west of Dingle…Liam had connections out there…drink was taken
Had to end a very loving relationship recently and find myself writing painful songs now where I used to write happy ones. My question for you is – what do you think makes a good love song? Also do you have a favourite?
Thanks
Christy's reply
” A Different Kind of Love Song”.. By Dick Gaughan
“Joy of Living”…………………………..By Ewan MacColl
“When a Man loves a Woman”……By Percy Sledge
“Sweet Thames Flow Softly”……..By Ewan MacColl
“I Fall to Pieces”……………………….By Patsy Cline
Brendy passed away Saturday just gone and was buried yesterday in Bantry Cemetery. My Dad, his nephew, asked me to reach out to you to let you know.
I would appreciate if you could dedicate a song to Brendy at Live at Marquee this summer, as we will be there, and it would be great way to commemorate Brendy.
Thank you,
Padraig Collins (you wrote to me a number of years ago after I sent a letter via Brendy to you in West Cork)
Christy's reply
Thanks for sharing the sad news…I have fond memories of your grand-uncle Brendy…we used to meet regularly back when I lived near Bantry….happy days..please extend my sympathy to the family
Hello Christy,
I read Dave’s post about his adventure in Manchester and Mike Butler’s follow up. Exciting stuff. Dave got a great mention in Mike’s subsequent post on Facebook.
I know many people here aren’t keen on Facebook, but I enjoyed reading it and Dave gets a starring role, so I hope neither of them mind me posting a link. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BtGNnnrFX/
I’d hoped I might get chance to get over there myself last weekend, and I did get to Manchester, just not as far in as Deansgate. Steve’s pipes went for their final fitting to David Lim. The bass regulator is all ready to be fitted, so Steve left a few bits over with David to get it assembled and came home with the chanter, bag and bellows. Back to a practice set while David works his magic on the moving parts.
As for me, I spent a couple of hours in a big guitar shop, hanging out with a few gentle musicians there and trying out some guitars. I think this will be the only time in my life when I have a lump of money sitting waiting for me that’s equal to a really good guitar. I’ve never been in this position before and I’d need a ridiculous amount of luck or good fortune for it ever to happen again. I bought a second guitar, traded in one guitar and a mandolin, and closed my eyes to the price. I’m sitting here playing away on both in turn, comparing the noise, the feel, everything. They are very different.
christy hi
amazed that on the radio today i heard a business ‘guru’ bemoan trump’s tariffs as they would affect diageo…..oh i cried tears of porter for the poor loves.
Trump is a danger to humanity it seems, rather than a danger to ethanol sales shareholder profits i would have thought.
Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream ,Tom Jones and David Gray………
Rory
Great to see all the ian dury chat.
Some lesser known songs to keep the memory going
Drip fed fred (with madness)…Sueperman’s big sister..Over the points…Sink my boats…Itinerant child…..Spasticus autisticus…Dance little rude boy
My fav ‘what a waste’
The last song i ever saw him sing on his ( cancer) farewell tour ‘mash it up harry’
And of course the Vernacular Dracula’s well known… Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Such a miss.Rory
Ps The Blockheads are still touring and i will see them again next month ….’they said the drugs would kill us, the drugs are keeping us alive’
added to ever lengthening list of songs to hear…
getting into front row mode here for the next 36 hours
rubbing in the wintergreen…getting ready to grunt….
every bit of clothing
ought to make you pretty
you can cut the clothing
grey is such a pity
I should wear the clothing
of Mr Walter Mitty
see my tailor
he’s called Simon
I know it’s going to fit
now you’re talkin
Hi Christy/all
So many brilliant,clever Ian Dury songs….one that gets to me is different in style. Very tender ballad,’My old man’…
Said gor blimey,now and then…
Dave
reminds me of Ewan MacColl’s song of same name
Hi Christy
Lovely to see the great Ian Dury
mentioned in dispatches. Top man.
Glad ye met up along the way.
Who, who, who’s that man …
Tabhair Aire
Bourkey
one of those special but brief encounters that left an indelible mark
Rebirth
Daughter of the sea waters
asleep in their entrails,
I am reborn from the gunpowder
which a guerrilla rifle
spread on the mountain
so that the world would be reborn in its turn,
that the whole sea would be reborn,
all the dust,
all the dust of Cuba.
– Nancy Morejón
Thank you for pointing us towards Nancy
Hi Christy
Back from the Baltic…enjoying a catch up here.Riga was a brill few days. Ancient and modern history to absorb,snowy streets to wander…warm cafes and bars.
Musical links…Ewan’s classic very much in mind as ‘silver darlings’ quickly became a staple.Exceptional when in a restaurant being battered by Baltic blasts…thoughts to those who brave the seas and there must be local lads who have the same right of passage as Ewan’s crew in ‘shials of Herring’
A music shop with a fine choice of bodhrans was a treat on a final wander…acapella harmonies in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral were spine tingling.Echoing around the domes..not many singers but bell like quality of their voices was memorable.
I’ve just revisited the exhibition in Central Library…Latvian rye bread and dark beers must have boosted my eyesight! Today,I spotted a small photo of a hirsute C Moore c 1973…as I recall you in the Golden Lion folk club in that era. A few items added since last week. I bet Colin Harper’s book about Bill Leader is great…’The man who paid the pipers’ works as a title ..
Great post by John. I was in Cuba a few years ago and looked up the Che/Lynch link when I got home. I’d seen a reference in a Cuban museum,but assumed I’d mashed it via my grim Spanish! Amazing history…
Dave
a Baltic Bodhran…
you covered some ground our kid
Bravo! John Liverpool
Christy, following your comments below, it’s got to be done. An Ian Dury tribute track on your next album “Hit me with your shovel Mick” (sorry couldn’t help it).😀
stall the digger Johnny Boy
Heya CM,
The Bewley’s gig would have been around 1994 ish? Same for Ballyfermot. You are correct- It was “ Banks of The Lee” you sang in the dark that night. I knew it was the Banks of something…
Remember the Fleadh on Randall’s Island in New York? You were singing “Fairytale” and the NYPD were backstage singing along..
Magic times….
That Randall’s Island gig was special….another visionary gig from the late Vince Power..he created so many wonderful opportunities for musicians to travel, to play, to earn…
it may be euphoric recall but my outstanding memory was a line of NYPD officers standing to attention in front of the stage as Shane’s classic song was performed
I remember so many of Vince’s gigs… staring with the Mean Fiddler in Harlesden we worked together at London, Glasgow and New York Fleadhanna,I played at the opening of Mean Fiddler in Dublin,at his Fleadh Mór in Tramore and last,but not least, at his wonderful “Nell’s Cafe” in London….he had many other plans before he was taken from us…always remembered…Vince Power
ps..,just remembered a venue in Tramore that never took off…Vince always wanted to put something special on in his native place..anyone remember that venue ?
Thanks Christy for your reply,
It put me in mind of your dedication made to Martin Hurson during the song ‘On The Blanket’ on the Lilac Disc in the box set, performed in Sligo.
Rory
If we stay silent we’re guilty
“They took away Hurson, McCreesh, McDonnell and McIlwee
O’Hara, Hughes, Lynch,Devine, Sands and Doherty
In Camlough, Bellaghy,Dungiven,The Bogside, Belfast and Tyrone
Where the gerrymandered people rose up, never again to lie down”
an additional verse added to Jack Warshaw’s “No Time for Love”
Hi Christy, some people say that you should never meet your heroes, which when you get to my age isn’t a problem as I’m more likely to visit their graves or meet their children than meet them in person. But tonight I met one of my heroes children, Aleida, in the back room of the Casa (pub) in Liverpool where she spoke eloquently & passionately (via an interpreter) about the Cuban and Palestinian solidarity campaigns. She finished with everyone on their feet singing The Internationale, I’ve been in company on numerous occasions when The Internationale was sang with passion & pride but the night I stood and sang it with Che Guevaras daughter will live long in my memory. Unfortunately she doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish so I never got to ask her about her Irish ancestry & Patrick Lynch who left Galway for Buenos Aires in 1749. I did however get the chance to raise a glass to our old companero Ken (R,I,P.) as the Casa was one of his favourite watering holes, ‘Stand up ,all victims of oppression’
“Against Batista, The Fidelista,
courage was their armour
as they fought at Fidel’s side
with Che Guevara”
Happy 80th birthday to the fantastic Robert Nesta Marley.
He and ian dury ( sorry christy) were the posters on my teenage bedroom wall.
WAR until the day when the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Rory
good teenage wall Rory….we got to hear Bob in Dalymountt Park, Dublin back in the day of the hard ticket..met the beautiful Ian on a Channel 4 programme in London way back…also heard him in Castlebar, County Mayo the day that Kieran Doherty died on hunger strike….gave the artist’s bar a miss that day
Hello Christy,
Thankyou for the posting the list of love songs.
I love the first one, haven’t moved down the list yet.
https://youtu.be/bCyZyHoGmHg?si=ya_Nr_D25DLr9Id6
Rebecca
Heya CM,
Have a lot of catching up to do on postings…was reading Gipps comments on Liam Og’s singing on “Bonny Light Horseman”. I seem to recall (box set?) All of you in Planxty singing on “Down to the River to Pray” that was such a wonderful part of “O Brother Where Art Thou”.
Then read someone speaking about their best gig….mine would have to be in Bewley’s, when EIlish was running the Folk Club there on Thursdays. Your gig there was the best ever! But also a memorable one in a community hall in Ballyfermot when the power went out and you stood in the dark at the front of the stage and sang acapella. I think it was “Banks of the Bann” that you sang, but whatever it was raised the hairs on the back of the neck. Great night–who needs electricity anyway!
some flashbacks there…any idea of what years (approx) the Bewleys and Ballyfermot gigs
Back then I used to sometimes sing “Banks of The Lee”
That Planxty “Down in The Valley” was from a 1972 rehearsal…..Liam was friendly with the American singer Pat Sky ..I think he may have turned Liam on to the song…… such happy getting-it-all-together rehearsals….we played Monday nights in Slattery’s of Capel St. Dublin ..Sunday Nights in The Old Shieling in Raheny..we released our first single “Three Drunken Maidens” on the Ruby label and got mentioned in Spotlight, Melody Maker and Evening Press….
we rehearsed for a few weeks out west of Dingle…Liam had connections out there…drink was taken
Hi Christy,
Had to end a very loving relationship recently and find myself writing painful songs now where I used to write happy ones. My question for you is – what do you think makes a good love song? Also do you have a favourite?
Thanks
” A Different Kind of Love Song”.. By Dick Gaughan
“Joy of Living”…………………………..By Ewan MacColl
“When a Man loves a Woman”……By Percy Sledge
“Sweet Thames Flow Softly”……..By Ewan MacColl
“I Fall to Pieces”……………………….By Patsy Cline
Hi Christy,
I just wanted to try and contact you with regard the recent death of a friend of yours: https://rip.ie/death-notice/brendan-collins-cork-bantry-583991
Brendy passed away Saturday just gone and was buried yesterday in Bantry Cemetery. My Dad, his nephew, asked me to reach out to you to let you know.
I would appreciate if you could dedicate a song to Brendy at Live at Marquee this summer, as we will be there, and it would be great way to commemorate Brendy.
Thank you,
Padraig Collins (you wrote to me a number of years ago after I sent a letter via Brendy to you in West Cork)
Thanks for sharing the sad news…I have fond memories of your grand-uncle Brendy…we used to meet regularly back when I lived near Bantry….happy days..please extend my sympathy to the family
I don’t know if anyone will be interested to see a pic of the new instrument. It’s here
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bbe3JGVmj/
Hello Christy,
I read Dave’s post about his adventure in Manchester and Mike Butler’s follow up. Exciting stuff. Dave got a great mention in Mike’s subsequent post on Facebook.
I know many people here aren’t keen on Facebook, but I enjoyed reading it and Dave gets a starring role, so I hope neither of them mind me posting a link.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BtGNnnrFX/
I’d hoped I might get chance to get over there myself last weekend, and I did get to Manchester, just not as far in as Deansgate. Steve’s pipes went for their final fitting to David Lim. The bass regulator is all ready to be fitted, so Steve left a few bits over with David to get it assembled and came home with the chanter, bag and bellows. Back to a practice set while David works his magic on the moving parts.
As for me, I spent a couple of hours in a big guitar shop, hanging out with a few gentle musicians there and trying out some guitars. I think this will be the only time in my life when I have a lump of money sitting waiting for me that’s equal to a really good guitar. I’ve never been in this position before and I’d need a ridiculous amount of luck or good fortune for it ever to happen again. I bought a second guitar, traded in one guitar and a mandolin, and closed my eyes to the price. I’m sitting here playing away on both in turn, comparing the noise, the feel, everything. They are very different.
Rebecca
christy hi
amazed that on the radio today i heard a business ‘guru’ bemoan trump’s tariffs as they would affect diageo…..oh i cried tears of porter for the poor loves.
Trump is a danger to humanity it seems, rather than a danger to ethanol sales shareholder profits i would have thought.
Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream ,Tom Jones and David Gray………
Rory
Greetings from down here, Christy.
Waiting for some September shows to be announced for my trip there this year. Anything at this stage?